Eodem: A Rifle and Sword Adventure (Complete)

Chapter 25: Operation Bakumatsu Part 1

He knew he was editing some of the finer historic details of Japan's Meiji Restoration period since he drew mentally in his head parallels between the historical Japanese Emperor who modernized his archipelago country into one of the most advanced nations on earth within a fraction of the time it would take for everyone else in the world to develop into such an extent.

"This King Meiji... he did it so he can be at equal with his peers. He must be very wise ruler to accomplish what you said... and I..." Clovich began to lower his once rather authoritative voice to a more modest toned pitch. "You humble me, Governor, you may not be of Noble Blood nor you have the luxury of thousands of years of wisdom but you speak like you have both. This King Meiji, I want to achieve what he did. I...I... wish to build up Tyr Rian like how Meiji had built his." Clovich admitted.

"Are you telling me you want us to be able to help uplift you?" White asked.

"Uplift?" Clovich twitched his eyebrow.

"As in teaching you how we build our buildings, power our machines and all the things that you see here that makes it all possible to be able to see what you see all here, in New Albany." White explained.

The Gliesian Prince nodded yes, affirming the Governor's assumptions.

Yet behind White's faked surprise face, there was a fulfilled ulterior accomplishment that rang sweetly inside him. Peace was still indeed possible despite what had transpired earlier... But then the Governor remembered what had transpired earlier...

"But, aren't you a Vassal? For the Slaegians? I don't think they would let this go that you suddenly gaining so much of our power that... your Master might feel... threatened to say the least..." the Governor tried to temper the Prince's eagerness with some grounded real politick.

"My Cousins might say otherwise. You see, after some time that Tyr Rian was subjugated by the Slaegians, my ancestor, Aragon sealed the conquest of the entire land I rule now by marrying a Tribal Princess from the conquered people. Aragon came from a very sunny region in the Empire called Souviel. It is a Duchy ruled by a man who shares my blood by the name of Thibault the Eighth. His entire Duchy is one of the Empire's largest wheat fields in their entire nation. He had told me through letters that there were times and places where Droughts would happen or Pirate attacks as reported by the sailors from Souviel's ports." Clovich informed.

"Something we can help with?" White asked.

"My Cousin wrote to me that he was getting Pirate Attacks, Famines, and Monster raids lately to name a few."

"How close are you to your cousin?"

"Well last time I saw my Cousin in person was when he was attending Aria's birthday a year ago and he gifted her a dress from one of the finest tailors from Souviel. There was also this one time he asked me to send some food stocks over to him due to drought and this other time he wanted to rent out this group of Orc Rider mercenaries that would take jobs for me around Tyr Rian. But then again, according to the Records we were both amicable with one another."

"I see, well is there any other people that can help vouch for us that you trust?" the Governor pressed.

"Well the Mercenaries and their kinsmen I mentioned earlier can be a start. Then there is Lutheor Mirrien's old Dwarfen friends back from his homelands at the Clan Hold by the mountains up North and then there is... but keep this between you and me and don't tell Iris about this but also some more of the Vampire's by the abandoned-looking fortress near Cambervale... but they don't like being near the 'Dumb Sheep' according to her. Maybe you can see to it? I heard that the Vampires are just as skilled in Magic as Iris and the Orcish Mercenaries can be very useful to you, plus Lutheor's friends are said to hold influence in the Dwarven Holdings." Clovich said.